• Neonatal Sucrose and Internalizing Behaviors at 18 Months in Children Born Very Preterm
• Ventilation practices in acute brain injured patients and association with outcomes: the VENTIBRAIN multicenter observational study
• Management of traumatic brain injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome-What evidence exists? A scoping review
• Drive Pressure-Guided Individualized Positive End-Expiratory Pressure in Traumatic Brain Injury Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial
• Compact Arterial Monitoring Device Use in Resuscitative Endovascular Balloon Occlusion of the Aorta (REBOA): A Simple Validation Study in Swine
• Lung-Protective Mechanical Ventilation in Patients with Severe Acute Brain Injury: A Multicenter Randomized Clinical Trial (PROLABI)
• Beyond the brain: General intensive care considerations in pediatric neurocritical care
• Evaluating the Sum of Eye and Motor Components of the Glasgow Coma Score As a Predictor of Extubation Failure in Patients With Acute Brain Injury

Protective ventilation strategies are aimed at minimizing ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI) while ensuring adequate oxygenation and CO₂ clearance, particularly in critically ill patients, including those with acute brain injury (ABI).

Low Tidal Volume (VT)

Typically 4-8 mL/kg of predicted body weight (PBW) Reduces barotrauma and volutrauma (excessive lung stretch)

Low Plateau Pressure (Pplat)

Aim for ≤ 30 cmH₂O Reduces the risk of lung overdistension and ventilator-induced lung injury

Driving Pressure (ΔP) Optimization

ΔP = Pplat - PEEP (Positive End-Expiratory Pressure)

Recommended target: ≤ 15 cmH₂O

Higher driving pressure has been associated with worse outcomes in ICU patients

Moderate Positive End-Expiratory Pressure (PEEP)

Usually 5-8 cmH₂O in neurologically injured patients Avoiding excessive PEEP is crucial to prevent increased intracranial pressure (ICP)

Permissive Hypercapnia (With Caution in ABI)

Mild hypercapnia (PaCO₂ 45-55 mmHg) can be tolerated in ARDS However, in ABI patients, PaCO₂ control is critical to prevent cerebral vasodilation and increased ICP Adequate Oxygenation (Avoiding Hyperoxia and Hypoxia)

Target PaO₂ 60-100 mmHg (SpO₂ 92-96%) Hyperoxia (> 150 mmHg PaO₂) may increase oxidative stress and worsen brain injury Protective Ventilation vs. Intracranial Pressure (ICP) Concerns

In ABI patients, maintaining cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) is essential

Sudden changes in PaCO₂ (due to ventilation adjustments) can affect cerebral blood flow

Avoid excessive PEEP, as it may reduce venous return and elevate ICP

Findings from the VENTIBRAIN Study (2025) Most ABI patients received protective ventilation, but practices varied significantly between countries. Higher plateau pressure (Pplat) was associated with higher ICU and 6-month mortality. Protective ventilation was not linked to neurological outcomes at 6 months.

Clinical Implications Protective lung ventilation is widely used, but its impact on neurological outcomes remains unclear.

Balancing lung protection with ICP control is crucial.

Standardized protocols could reduce variability and improve outcomes.

An international, prospective, multicenter, observational study was conducted across 74 ICUs in 26 countries, including adult patients with ABI (e.g., traumatic brain injury, intracranial hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and acute ischemic stroke), who required ICU admission and invasive mechanical ventilation. Ventilatory settings were recorded daily during the first week and on days 10 and 14. ICU and 6-month mortality and 6-month neurological outcomes were evaluated.

On admission, 2095 recruited patients (median age 58 [interquartile range 45-70] years, 66.1% male) had a median plateau pressure (Pplat) of 15 (13-18) cmH20, tidal volume/predicted body weight 6.5 (5.7-7.3) mL/Kg, driving pressure 9 (7-12) cmH20, and positive end-expiratory pressure 5 (5-8) cmH20, with no modifications in case of increased intracranial pressure (> 20 mmHg). Significant differences in practices were observed across different countries. The majority of these ventilatory settings were associated with ICU mortality, with the highest hazard ratio (HR) for Pplat (odds ratio 1.50; 95% confidence interval, CI: 1.27-1.78). The results demonstrated a consistent association with 6-month mortality; a less clear association was observed for neurological outcomes.

Protective ventilation strategies are commonly used in ABI patients but with high variability across different countries. Ventilator settings during ICU stay were associated with an increased risk of ICU and 6-month mortality, but not an unfavorable neurological outcome ¹⁾.